I learned to knit when my oldest was a baby, and all I wanted to make were adorable things for kids. Hand-knit baby sweaters, hats and blankets made for such meaningful and useful gifts for my friends who were also having babies. I have inundated my friends and family with knitted Christmas gifts over the years too, but my desire to knit for others hasn’t wained. I even taught myself to crochet a couple of years ago to add some variety.

The solution is, of course, knitting for strangers. I attempted to run an Etsy store several years ago, with very limited success. Somehow making a business out of it took a lot of the fun out of it. Giving my work away to help others, though, is deeply satisfying. A few hats have gone to charity auctions, and I’ve even knit infant burial clothing for families who have not been able to bring their babies home from the hospital. (That is a very much appreciated but a difficult job!)

Earlier this year, I saw a video on Facebook about a knitting group that makes hats for cancer patients at Magee Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, and “Eureka!,” I joined. So far I have turned in 59 hats.

The ladies in the group (and occasionally a gentleman) meet a couple of times a month in the hospital lobby. I have learned a lot from this pack of spunky older gals who all bring different talents and humor. It is amazing to meet some of the patients and families that we are bringing a bit of comfort to as well.

If you are interested in making “chemo caps,” either for someone you know or for strangers, here are a few things to remember:

1. Heads without hair are a bit smaller, so adjust your hat size down a bit. (I am bad at this, as I have a huge head and thick hair.)
2. Heads without hair are very sensitive to scratchy materials, so be sure to use soft, washable yarn.
3. Stretchy, or ribbed hats are great because they can accommodate many different head sizes.

I get bored easily, and I’m always on the lookout for easy patterns I can adapt for chemo caps. Here is one of my favorites, which uses a mock cable stitch to create a deceptively easy, intricate-looking design. Enjoy!

Click to download the pattern: scalloped-cap